Bib and/or Apron for Use on a Baby

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is for a baby&#39;s bib and/or apron, referred to as a “bapron,” that affixes to the baby securely, safely, comfortably, and which accommodates the growing size of the baby. The bapron has a generally rectangular bottom portion, configured to cover at least the baby&#39;s stomach and a portion of the baby&#39;s lap, and a U-shaped top section that includes two upwardly extending shoulder members. The shoulder members are configured and attached to form arm loops in which the baby&#39;s arms extend. The shoulder members support the bib and/or apron over the baby&#39;s shoulders and tie together with straps securing the bapron behind the baby&#39;s back.

BACKGROUND

Bibs and aprons are the best products to protect a wearer's clothing during eating, cooking, and other messy activities. For babies, bibs and aprons can be a necessity, especially when the baby is eating (typically done with their hands), painting, or a handful of other messy activities.

With the necessity and high use of baby bibs and aprons, as well as the simple fact that they are being used on babies, such products must be made in a manner that they are safe and do not cause harm or irritation to the baby. Baby bibs and aprons can be made of cloth, plastic or any other suitable material. Most bibs focus on protecting the baby's chest and almost always use straps that tie at least around the baby's neck. In tying around the neck, however, problems can occur. First, there are potential safety problems with anything tied around a baby's neck, especially as the baby moves, squirms and pulls at the bib or apron. Additionally, the straps used to tie the bib or apron can chafe the baby's neck.

It is also necessary to have a bib or apron stay in place covering the baby's chest as the baby squirms and moves around, and highly desirable to have a bib or apron that can trap food rather than having the food simply drop to the floor. Those bibs that tie around the baby's neck do not securely affix the bib to the baby's body. Instead, bibs of this design can easily shift and fail to adequately cover the baby's body as the baby moves. While some bibs are designed with pockets to catch fallen food, the pockets themselves trap food in a way that it is often difficult to clean and remove the food particles from the pockets.

Finally, new bibs must be purchased as the baby grows to properly fit and be able to be secured around the baby. Most baby bib designs, however, are not practical for a one-size bib while adequately accommodating the growth of the baby over time. It is thus highly desirable to also have a bib that can also accommodate the baby's growth and still be secure as the baby gets older.

Other baby bibs or aprons have been shown, but none having all the desirable features and attributes and solving the needs referenced above. See, for example, the Cover All Bib by Tiny Tailor designs, shown at https://www.etsy.com/listing/470549988/bib-cover-all-bib-bapron-reversible-bib?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us e-clothing-unisex_kids_clothing-unisex_baby_clothing&utm_custom1=e8a086c8-2edf-4bda-91e8-980de24c7d8f&gclid=COjH_Yvg79; the ZARA aprons shown at: https://www.zara.com/us/en/kids/accessories/mini/yummy-bib-pack-c893637p4080677.html#utm_referrer=http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/kids/clothi ng-footwear/best-baby-bibs-uk-for-spit-up-drooling-solids-a6728256.html; the “Cute Baby Piglet farm Animals Babies Zazzle HEART Apron” shown at https://www.zazzle.com/cute_baby_piglet_farm_animals_babies_zazzle_heart_apron-256315143290630148; the “Blue Chevron Baby Bapron Bib” by MamuDesigns, shown at https://www.etsy.com/listing/289244771/blue-chevron-baby-bapron-bib-bapron?ref=shop_home_active_19]; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,904,968.

SUMMARY

My invention is directed to a baby bib and/or apron, referred to as a “bapron,” that satisfies the needs and contains the desired features referenced above. It will securely, safely and comfortably cover the entire chest, stomach, and at least part of a baby's lap. It contains two shoulder members that in use extend over the shoulders of the baby, with straps that tie in a single and safe location behind the baby's back. By fitting over the baby's shoulders and torso, my invention more securely and comfortably affixes the bapron to the baby and covers a larger portion of his or her body. My invention also catches food that the baby drops while eating by a binding around the bapron and by creating a bowl-like shape in the baby's lap. My invention also accommodates the baby's increasing size, obviating the need to purchase larger sizes of the bapron as the child grows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

My invention will be better understood from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a back schematic view of the fabric pattern for an embodiment of my bapron invention prior to the connection of the top end of the shoulder members to the body of the bapron.

FIG. 2 shows a back-schematic view of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 1 but after connection of the top end of the shoulder member to the body of the bapron;

FIG. 3 is a back-isometric view of part of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the shoulder member of my bapron;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 2 showing this embodiment in use and from the back of a baby.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 2 showing this embodiment in use and from the front of a baby.

DESCRIPTION

While my invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and herein described in detail, features, structures, or characteristics of my/our invention as demonstrated in various preferred embodiments. These embodiments are to be considered for illustrative purposes and as an exemplification of the principles of my/our invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of my/our invention to the specific embodiments illustrated herein. The features, structures, or characteristics of my/our invention as disclosed in any one preferred embodiment, for example, may be rearranged or combined with the features, structures or characteristics in any other embodiment. One skilled in the relevant art will also recognize that my/our invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the back of a general pattern of a fabric 10 that, when configured as further described herein, will make up an exemplary embodiment of my baby bapron invention. The fabric 10 can be made of cloth, plastic or any other suitable material that can cover and protect a baby's body. It can also be made as a laminate of multiple layers of fabric, such as a polyurethane laminate knit fabric or having a plastic or other water-proof material on one side and a soft material on the other side.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, fabric 10 has a generally rectangular shaped bottom section 11. The circumference of the bottom section 11 is made up of a bottom edge 15, a left edge 13, an uppermost limit illustrated by a line 16, and a right edge 14. The corners of the fabric 10 on each end of the bottom edge 15 in this embodiment is rounded. The location of line 16 is generally as shown in FIG. 1, and will be further described below. The generally rectangular shaped bottom section 11 thus has a height extending between the bottom edge 15 and the uppermost limit line 16, and a width extending between the left edge 13 and the right edge 14. The height and width of the bottom section 11 are configured and large enough such that in use, the bottom portion 11 as shown in FIG. 1 lie against the baby's body and will cover a baby's stomach, at least a portion of the baby's lap, and could cover a portion of the baby's chest. This is further shown in FIG. 4, showing the embodiment of my bapron of FIGS. 2-3 in place on a baby.

As still further illustrated in FIG. 1, fabric 10 also has a generally U-shaped top section 12. The bottom portion of the U-shaped top section is generally shown in FIG. 1 at 22 and extends down to the uppermost limit 16 of the bottom section 11. The upward extending arms of the U-shaped top section are an elongated left shoulder member 20 and an elongated right shoulder member 21. The top end of the elongated left shoulder member 20 is shown in FIG. 1 at 23, and the top end of the elongated right shoulder member 21 is shown in FIG. 1 at 24. While these top ends are shown in FIG. 1 as being flat, they can easily be a point or of any other configuration. The right edge of the elongated left should member 20, the top of the bottom portion 22 of the U-shaped top section 12, and the left edge of the elongated right shoulder member 21 form a U-shaped rim 25 through which, in use, the baby's neck is placed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the baby's face would be facing into the Figure between the left and right shoulder members. That is, the portion of the fabric 10 shown in FIG. 1, in use, is placed against the baby's body.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate an embodiment, 19, of my bapron invention as constructed from the fabric pattern 10 and after attachment of the top ends of the elongated shoulder members. This attachment forms arm loops through which the baby's arms will be inserted and locates the shoulder members on top of the baby's shoulders when in use. The left side of the U-shaped top section 12, made up of the left side of the bottom portion 22 and left side of the elongated left shoulder member 20, is formed in a concave manner to accommodate and comfortably fit a baby's left arm. Similarly, the right side of the U-shaped top section 12, made up of the right side of the bottom portion 22 and right side of the elongated right shoulder member 21, is concave to accommodate and comfortably fit a baby's right arm. For attaching the elongated left shoulder member 20, the outermost point 26 of the top end 23, as viewed in FIG. 1, is looped around and connected to the fabric, as shown in FIG. 2, at or approximately at the left most edge of the fabric 10, this edge made up of the left edge 13 of the bottom section 11 and left edge of the bottom portion 22. This connection, furthermore, is at a location at or about the uppermost limit 16 of the bottom section 11. Similarly, for attaching the elongated right shoulder member 21, the outermost point 27 of the top end 24, as viewed in FIG. 1, is looped around and connected to the fabric, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at or approximately at the right most edge of the fabric 10, this edge made up of the right edge 14 of the bottom section 11 and the right edge of the bottom portion 22. This latter connection is also made at or about the uppermost limit 16 of the bottom section 11. There are attached to the innermost points 28 and 29, as viewed in FIG. 1, of the top ends 23 and 24, straps 30 and 31, respectively, that can tie together around the baby's back thereby safely and comfortably securing the bapron 19 around the baby. That is, by tying straps around the baby's back, instead of around the baby's neck as in the prior art, there is less danger of choking or chafing the baby when in use.

As further shown in the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the entire circumference of the fabric pattern 10 is covered and reinforced with a binding 35. In my preferred embodiment, straps 30 and 31 are made from a continuation of binding 35. The bapron's binding 35, which can be made of the same material as fabric 10, a waterproof material or any other pliable fabric, can also catch food particles that fall when the baby is sitting and eating, as more fully explained below.

FIG. 3 illustrates in an enlarged and angled view from FIG. 2, the elongated right shoulder member of the bapron 19. FIG. 3 illustrates how elongated right shoulder member 21 is formed when the top end 24 is connected to the right side of the bapron at approximately the height of line 16. FIG. 3 further illustrates how the elongated shoulder member 21 will be tied to elongated shoulder member 20 by straps 30 and 31 at approximately the height of line 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates a baby, shown from the back, wearing the bapron 19. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the baby's arms fit through elongated shoulder members 20 and 21. Elongated shoulder members 20 and 21 are further connected through straps 30 and 31 tied together behind the baby's back at or about the height of line 16. Even if a larger baby than the one illustrated in FIG. 4 were to wear the bapron, straps 30 and 31 would remain substantially below the neck of the baby at approximately line 16 to maintain safety and comfort. If a baby smaller than the one illustrated in FIG. 4 were to wear the bapron, straps 30 and 31 when tied would fit closer together on the baby's back, but also still well below the neck of the baby at approximately line 16. As seen, the bapron can accommodate babies of a wide variety of sizes, obviating the need to purchase different sizes of the bapron as the baby grows.

FIG. 5 illustrates a baby, shown from the front, wearing the bapron 19. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a bowl 36 is formed in the baby's lap that can also catch food particles that fall when the baby is sitting and eating. In particular, bowl 36 is formed when bottom edge 15, right edge 14, and left edge 13 are lifted upwards when the baby is seated. The rounded corners of left edge 13, right edge 14, and bottom edge 15 allow bowl 36 to be formed. The bapron flattens when the baby is standing.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A bapron for use on a baby, said bapron comprising, a. a piece of fabric having a generally rectangular shaped bottom section and a generally U-shaped top section; b. said generally rectangular shaped bottom section having a width and height configured to cover the baby's stomach and at least a portion of the baby's lap; c. said generally U-shaped top section having a bottom portion with a left side and a right side, an elongated left shoulder member extending upwardly from the left side of said bottom portion, and an elongated right shoulder member extending upwardly from the right side of said bottom portion; said shoulder members configured in spaced relationship from each other to accommodate space for a baby's neck therebetween and to lie over a baby's shoulders and said bottom portion configured to at least cover a portion of a baby's chest; d. said elongated left shoulder member having a top end opposite from the bottom portion of the generally U-shaped top section from which the left sleeve extends, and said elongated right shoulder member having a top end opposite from the bottom section of the generally U-shaped top section from which the right sleeve extends; e. the top end of the left sleeve connected in proximity to the left edge of the generally rectangular shaped bottom section approximately at the uppermost limit of the bottom section creating a loop with said elongated shoulder member to accommodate a baby's arm therethrough; f. the top end of the right shoulder member connected in proximity to the right edge of the generally rectangular shaped bottom section approximately at the uppermost limit of the bottom section creating a loop with said elongated shoulder member to accommodate a baby's arm therethrough; g. a first strap having two ends, one end of said left strap connected to the top end of the left shoulder member and the other end unattached, and a second strap having two ends, one end of said second strap connected to the top end of the right sleeve and the other end unattached, whereby said unattached ends of said straps configured to tie to each other at and around a baby's back.
 2. The bapron of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a polyurethane laminate knit fabric;
 3. The bapron of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises multiple layers of material;
 4. The bapron of claim 1, further comprising a binding attached to and at the edges of said fabric configured to catch crumbs and spills when the baby is eating.
 5. The bapron of claim 4, wherein said first and second straps are each an extension of said binding.
 6. The bapron of claim 1, wherein the connection of the top end of the left shoulder member in proximity to the left edge of the bottom section is formed by the top end of the left sleeve positioned adjacent and near the left edge of the bottom section and connected by the binding attached to and around the edges of the fabric.
 7. The bapron of claim 1, wherein the connection of the top end of the right shoulder member in proximity to the right edge of the bottom section is formed by the top end of the right sleeve positioned adjacent and near the right edge of the bottom section and connected by the binding attached to and around the edges of the fabric. 